Electrical measuring-machine.



No. 790,917. PATENTED MAY 30, I905.

' I. J. PERKINS.

ELECTRICAL MEASURING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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L iffzinctsa es. H 12221612502.

PATENTED MAY 30, 1905.

F. J. PERKINS.

ELECTRICAL MEASURING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED MAY 30, 1905.

F. J. PERKINS.

ELECTRICAL MEASURING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.17,1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' Dave/z t0)? NTTED STATES Patented May 30, 1905.

PATENT Crrrcn.

FRANKLIN J. PERKINS. OF WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO VAUGHN-FOODMACHINE COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

ELECTRICAL MEASURING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,917, dated May 30,1905.

Application filed September 17,1903. Serial No. 173,572.

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN J. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States,residing in VVoburn, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in ElectricalMeasuring-Machines, of which the following description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters onthe drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a machine for measuring the areas of surfaces,and is especially designed and adapted for measuring the surface area ofhides, skins, and leather. For this purpose I employ a machine providedwith a movable support for the hide or skin, having a plurality ofcontacts, with which cooperate circuit-controllers, some of which arerendered effective by the hide or skin to complete at one point thecircuit of an electricallyoperated registering mechanism, which circuitis completed at another point by the engagement of a contact on themovable support with a circuit-controller which is unaffected by thehide or skin, as will be described.

In the machine" herein shown as embodying this invention the movablesupport is shown as a rotatable bed-roll provided on its periphcry witha series of circuit terminals or contacts, with which cooperate aplurality of movable circuit-controllers in the form of rollers mountedon levers, some of which are adapted to be moved by the hide, skin, orother surface to be measured and to be brought .into contact withcooperating circuit-terminals to close at one point the circuit of anelectromagnet, the said circuit being completed by engagement of acontact on the bed-roll with a circuit-controller unacted upon by thehide or skin, the electromagnet being thus energized and effecting astep-by-step movement of a pointer through suitable gearing, as will bedescribed. These and other features of this invention will be pointedout in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a front elevation, with parts broken away, of ameasuring-machine embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation ofthe machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a detail in rear elevation and onan enlarged scale of the registering mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4c,a cross-section of the bed-roll shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5. a developedview of a portion of the bed-roll shown in Figs. 1 and 4E, and Fig. 6 adiagrammatic view to be referred to.

In the machine herein shown as embodying this invention, ab representside frames, which are connected by a cross frame or bar 0 and support.in suitable bearings a bed-roll (Z, constituting one form of movablesupport for the hide or skin and which is provided on its circumferencewith a plurality of contacts a, which are preferably separated from oneanother on the surface or periphery of the roll by rubber or othersuitable insulating material f. In the present instance the bed-roll clis represented in Fig. 4 as a solid metal roll provided on itscircumference with a covering of rubber or other suitable insulatingmaterial, through which extend projections on the periphery of saidroll, said projections extending through the covering at differentpoints to form contact members a, which are arranged, as herein shown,in rows running longitudinally of the bed-roll, with the contacts inadjacent rows out of line with each other and with the contacts ofalternate rows in line with each other. The contacts in eachlongitudinal row are set back from one another, so that eachlongitudinally-extended row is inclined with relation to the axis of thebed-roll, whereby in the rotation of the bed-roll, to be hereinafterdescribed, an electric circuit may be closed at only one contact memberat a time. The contacts e are further arranged so that those inalternate longitudinal rows are in the same transverse line. Thecontacts 0 of each longitudinally-extended row have cooperating withthem circuit-controllers, herein shown as rollers 9, carried by leversh, which are pivoted on a rod or bar 71, supported by a top frame j,preferably mounted on the main or lower frame, so as to be verticallyadjustable or movable thereon, as will be described. The rod 6 issuitably insulated from the frame 1', as by bushings 8, of rubber orother suitable insulating material. It will be understood that there areas many levers h as there are contacts 6 in each longitudinally-extendedrow and that these levers are mounted on the pivot a close together. Thelevers ]L cooperate with a second set of circuit terminals or contactmembers 70, one for each lever, which terminals are electricallyconnected together, as shown, by a metal plate m, to which they arefastened by the screws a, the said metal plate being secured to a bar orpiece of insulating material, which is suitably fastened to the sides ofthe top frame 1'. The levers h are normally held out of contact with theterminals la and in contact with the bed-roll d, which may be eflectedby a spring p between each lever 7L and the cross-bar q of the topframe. The contacts a on the bed-roll, the levers h, and terminals 7::govern the operation of an electromagnet 10, which in turn governs theoperation of a registering mechanism.

In the present instance the electromagnet 10 is secured to a suitablesupport 12, secured to or forming part of the top frame j, and isprovided with an armature 13, having forked arms or pallets 14 15, whichcooperate with an escapement-wheel 16, mounted on a shaft 17 which isconnected, through a suitable train of gears 18, with a shaft 19,carrying a pointer 20, which registers with graduations on a dial 21,loosely mounted on the shaft 19, to be turned thereon, and provided withslots 22 23, through which are extended clampingscrews 24 25, whichserve to secure said dial in its adjusted position.

The escapement-wheel 16 is normally engaged by one of the pallets, as15, and the other pallet, 14, is normally held out of engagement withsaid escapement-wheel by a spring 27. (See Fig. 3.) When the magnet 10is energized, as will be described, the pallet 14 is engaged with theescapement-wheel 16, and the latter and its shaft 17 are rotated thedistance of one tooth of the escapementwheel, which effects movement ofthe pointer through the train of gears 18 the distance of one graduationon the dial. The magnet 10 is energized by each impulse transmitted overits circuit, and the latter is closed when each contact on the bed-rollengages one of the rollers 9.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that when the rollers g rest onthe bed-roll the circuit of the magnet is open between the levers i andthe terminal springs 71: and that when a hide or skin or other surfaceis interposed between the bed-roll and some of the levers the leverswhose rollers are engaged by the hide or skin are turned on their pivot2' and their long arms are brought into contact with thespring-terminals is, so that when in the rotation of the bed-roll acontact thereon engages a roller 9 the circuit of the magnet is com-Eleted, which circuit may be readily traced in By reference to Fig. 6 itwill be seen that one end of the coil of the magnet 10 is connected withthe terminal springs is by wire 29, while its other end is connected bywire with one pole of the battery 31, the other pole of which isconnected by the wire 32 with the bed-roll d. In Figs. 1 and 2 a contactbrush or spring 33 is shown, which bears on the journal of the roll d orit may be on a collecting-ring thereon, and the wire 32 is connected tothe spring 33.

Assume that a hide or skin is interposed between some of the rollers gand the bedroll, thereby closing the circuit between some of the levers7i and their cooperating terminal springs k, while one of the otherlevers resting on the bed-roll closes the circuit between it and one ofthe contacts a on the bed-roll, which is what occurs in the operation ofthe machine'herein shown and which condition is represented in Fig. 6.In this case it will be seen that the circuit of the magnet 10 iscompleted, which circuit may be traced as follows, namely: from thepositive pole of the battery 31 by wire 32 to the bed-roll, thence by acontact 6 and lever h in engagement therewith to the pivot-rod a, thenceby a lever it, raised by the interposed hide or skin, to the terminalspring is, cooperating with said lever, and thence by the wire 29 to themagnet 10, through said magnet, and thence by wire 30 to the negativepole of the battery.

It will be understood that each contact 0 uncovered by the hide or skinbeing measured energizes the magnet 10, which moves the index or pointer20 in the direction indicated by the arrow 40, Fig. 1, the distance ofone graduation for each impulse. It therefore follows that with themachine herein shown the area of the surface passed through the machineis obtained by subtracting from the area represented by the total numberof contacts e on the bed-roll the area represented by the contacts whichenergize the magnet 10, which latter contact-s are those uncovered bythe hide or skin as it passes through the machine.- This subtraction iseffected on the machine itself, and to this end the graduations arearranged reversely on the dialthat is, the said graduations read fromleft to right, while the pointer is moved from right to left. The dialis adjustable on its shaft, so as to compensate for any errors which mayarise in working the machine. The registering mechanism may be providedwith additional dials 41 and pointers 42 (see Fig. 1) to register atotal area greater than that indicated by the dial 21. Provision is madefor measuring material of different thickness, and to this end the topframe 1' is vertically adjustable on the lower frame, comprising thesides a b and cross-bar 0. For this purpose the sides of the lower frameare provided with sockets 44 to receive depending bosses or projections45 on the side pieces of the upper frame, which bosses may be providedwith threaded sockets for the reception of vertically-arranged screws46, revolubly supported in the bottom 47 of the sockets 44 and providedbelow the same with a bevel-pinion 48, (see Fig. 2,) which meshes with abevel-pinion 49 on a shaft 50, supported by the sides of the lower frameand having, as shown, a crank or handle 51, by which the shaft 50 may beturned to effect rotation of the screws 46, and thereby elevate or lowerthe movable top frame 1'. The amount of adjustment may be indicated on ascale 58, attached to the stationary lower frame, with which cooperatesa pointer 54, fixed to and movable with the upper frame. The verticaladjustment of the upper frame to permit thick material to be measureddoes not interfere with the operation of the machine, as the rollers gare maintained in engagement with the bed-roll in the absence of a hideor skin, owing to the fact that they are arranged at one side of avertical line through the center of the pivot j for the levers 72 whenthe upper frame is in its lowermost position, so that as the upper frameis moved upward the rollers move downward in the arc of a circle andremain in contact with the bed-roll when the center of the rollers arein substantially a vertical line passing through the center of the pivot2'. Provision is made for keeping clean the contacts on the bed-roll,and to this end aknife or scraper 55 is secured to levers 56, mounted onapivot 57, carried by the sides of the lower frame and having acounterweight 58, which serves to keep the knife or scraper inengagement with the bed-roll, as represented in Fig. 2. I

The mechanism herein shown is standardized in the manner now commonlyemployed with machines of this class namely, by passing a surface whosearea is known through the machine and adjusting the latter until theregistering mechanism registers the known area, and thereafter the areaof each skin put through the machine is determined with relation to thestandard area by subtracting from the total number of impulsesrepresenting the standard area the impulses transmitted when the saidskin is passed through the machine.

It will be seen that in the machine embodying this invention a singleregistering-magnet is employed and that the circuit of this magnet isclosed at one point by the hide or skin bringing some of thecircuit-controllers into engagement with their cooperatingcircuitterminals and that the circuit remains open until the movablecontact-carrier or bed-roll in its travel brings a contact uncovered bythe skin into engagement with a circuit-controller.

After each hide or skin has been passed through the machine the pointer20 is unclamped from its shaft and turned back to its starting position,(shown in Fig. 1,) resting against the pin 24, the shaft for the pointerbeing provided with a suitable thumb-nut by which the pointer may beagain clamped to the shaft.

I claim 1. In a machine of the class described, in combination, arotatable bed-roll provided on its periphery with contacts, means torotate said bed-roll, means for electrically separating said contacts onthe surface of the bedroll, pivoted levers cooperating with the contactson said bed-roll, circuit-terminals cooperating with said levers andnormally separated therefrom, a registering mechanism provided with apointer or index, and 'an electromagnet to operate said registeringmechanism and move said pointer or index step by step, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a rotatablebed-roll provided on its periphery with contacts, means to rotate saidbed-roll, means for electrically separating said contacts on the surfaceof the bedroll, pivoted levers cooperating with the contacts on saidbed-roll, circuit-terminals cooperating with said levers and normallyseparated therefrom, a registering mechanism provided with a pointer orindex, an electromagnet to operate said registering mechanism and movesaid pointer or index step by step, and a dial provided with graduationsreversely arranged with relation to the movement of said pointer orindex, substantially as described.

23. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a rotatablebed-roll provided on its periphery with contacts, means. to rotate saidbed-roll, means for electrically separating said contacts on the surfaceof the bedroll, pivoted levers cooperating with the contacts on saidbed-roll, circuit-terminals cooperating with said levers and normallyseparated. therefrom, a registering mechanism provided with a pointer orindex, an electromagnet to operate said registering mechanism and movesaid pointer or index step by step, a dial provided with graduationsreversely arranged with relation to the movement of said pointer orindex and adjustable with relation to said pointer, and means to securesaid dial in its adjusted position, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a stationaryframe, a bed-roll mounted therein and provided on its circumference withcontacts, means to electrically separate said contacts on the surface ofsaid bed-roll, a movable upper frame adjustably supported on saidstationary frame, a plurality of circuit-terminals carried by saidmovable frame, a plurality of circuit-controllers carried by saidmovable frame and cooperating with the contacts on the bed-roll and withsaid circuit-terminals, a registering mechanism and an electromagnet tooperate it governed by said circuit-con trollers, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a bed-rollprovided with contacts, means for electrically separating said contactson the surface of said roll, a registering mechanism, an electromagnetto operate it, and circuit-controllers governing the operation of saidelectromagnet and rendered effective by the interposition between themand said bed-roll of the object whose surface is to be measured,substantially as described.

6. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a rotatable bedroll provided with contacts, means to rotate said bed-roll, aregistering mechanism, an electromagnet to operate it, circuit-terminalsconnected with said electromagnet, and circuit-controllers governing theoperation of said electromagnet and cooperating with said contacts andcircuit-terminals, substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a plurality ofcontacts rotatably mounted, a plurality of circuit-terminals, and aplurality of circuit-controllers cooperating with said contacts and withsaid circuit-terminals, substantially as described.

8. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a plurality ofcontacts, a plurality of circuit-terminals, and a plurality ofcircuit-controllers cooperating with said contacts and with saidcircuit-terminals, substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the class described, in combination, anelectricallyoperated registering mechanism, a plurality ofcircuit-terminals, a plurality of contacts arranged out of line witheach other, a movable support for said contacts, and a plurality ofcircuit-controllers cooperating with the said circuit-terminals and withsaid contacts, and rendered effective by the object whose surface is tobe measured to place the circuit of the registering mechanism betweenthe circuit-controllers and said circuit-terminals in condition to becompleted when a contact engages a circuitcontroller, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a movablesupport for the object whose surface is to be measured, means to movesaid support, a plurality of contacts carried by said movable support, aplurality of circuit-terminals, and a plurality of movablecircuit-controllers cooperating with said contacts and with saidcircuit-terminals, said contacts, terminals and circuit-controllersbeing arranged on said machine, so that an electric circuit is closedbetween someof said controllers and terminals by the object whosesurface is being measured, and is open between the movable support andone or more of said circuit-controllers until a contact on said supportuncovered by the object whose surface is being measured is brought intoengagement with a circuit-controller, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANKLIN J. PERKINS.

Witnesses:

J AS. H. CHURCHILL, J. MURPHY.

